Dick Advocaat has been appointed as Sunderland’s new head coach until the end of the season following Gus Poyet’s sacking on Monday
Sunderland have confirmed the appointment of Dick Advocaat as head coach until the end of the season.
Advocaat replaces Gus Poyet, who was sacked yesterday after the Black Cats slumped to fourth-bottom -and to within a single point of the relegation zone – with nine games remaining.
And Sunderland have turned to the hugely-experienced Dutchman, handing him the task of keeping the Black Cats in the Premier League.]
Advocaat’s first game will be Satutday’s trip to face West Ham at Upton Park, and his first home game in charge will be the Wear-Tyne derby against Newcastle United on April 5.
Advocaat has an impressive CV that includes spells at top clubs in Holland, Scotland, Germany and Russia, as well as at international level with two stints in charge of Holland, as well as Russia, Belgium and, most recently, Serbia.
He will be joined on Wearside by first team coach Zeljko Petrovic, who also worked with him in Serbia, and ex-Swansea City and England U20 goalkeeping coach Adrian Tucker.
Sunderland academy coach Paul Bracewell will also work with Advocaat during the run-in.
Advocaat said: Sunderland is a big club and I am very much looking forward to the challenge ahead.
We must now concentrate on Saturday as a priority and I can’t wait to get started.
Sunderland owner Ellis Short added: Dick has an incredible CV and vast experience of managing at the very highest level.
We have one aim only now – to climb the table and everyone is fully focused on the task ahead of us.
Sunderland are expected to consider their options at the end of the season before making a long-term appointment in the summer.